Bridge-guard



(No Model.)

0. G. TOZIER.

BRIDGE GUARD.

No. 374 882. Patented Dec 13, 1887.

Wiiness es.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. TOZlER, OF CHELSEA, ASSIGNOR, BSCDIREOT AND MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO WALTER J. PAINE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BRIDGE-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,882, dated December 13, 1887.

Application filed August 18, 1887. Serial No. 247,316. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES (J. TOZIER, of Chelsea, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in BridgeGuards, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Fignrel is a top plan view of a bridge provided with my improvement; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same as viewed from the line ing accidents to brakemen when riding on the top of freight-cars by being brought into contact with overhead bridges; and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more fully setforth and claimed, the object being to produce a more effective and otherwise desirable article of this character than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation.

In the drawings, A B represent the tracks of the railroad, C the train of cars, and D an elevated bridge resting on abutments E and spanning the road-bed in the usual manner.

Projecting horizontally from one of the sills or side timbers of the bridge over the track B there are two brackets, d, and journaled horizontally in the said brackets there is a shaft, m, provided at one of its ends with a ratchetwheel, b, with which a retaining-pawl, i, pivoted on one of said brackets, engages.

Secured centrally and longitudinally beneath the bridge D there is a timber, f, to

which is attached a series of elliptic springs, g, as best shown in Fig. 4. The upper mem ber of each of said springs is divided, and the inner ends of each section elongated to overlap the other, being provided with slots t, through which the attaching-bolt 1; passes loosely, this construction and arrangement of the parts enabling the ends of the sections at the bolt 12 to slide on each other as the spring is compressed and rendering the spring more elastic than it would otherwise be. I do not, however, confine myself to springs of any special construction, as any suitable springs adapted to perform the same functions may be employed. The springs shown in the present instance are connected with each other or tied by a transversely-arranged rod, .2, which is secured to the lower member of each spring, as best seen in Fig. 4.

Disposed at each side of the road-bed, preferabl y about one hundred feet from the bridge D, there is a stout post, H, and mounted on said posts there is a strong girder or timber, J, which spans the tracks A B at a height slightly above the floor of the bridge D, or about seven feet above the carstanding on the track.

Disposed beneath the bridge D, above the track B, are a series of guaidwires, K, resting against the lower side of the rod 2, and being secured at one end to said girder and at the other to the shaft m. g

The above description applies more espe cially to the track B; but the track A is provided with a series of guard-wires in substantially the same manner, which project from the bridge D in the opposite direction, as shown in Fig. 1, to provide for trains running in opposite directions.

, When the road has but one track, two sets of the guard-wires K are employed, and arranged so as to extend over the tracks to the girders J at each side of the bridge, it being understood, of course, that in such a case either one or two rods m may be employed one on each side of the bridge-although but one set of springs, g, are necessary.

The use of my improvement is illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the cars 0 are represented as approaching the bridge D on the track B in the direction indicated bythe arrow for a more explicit description.

The springs g cushion the guard-wires, be-

ing designed to yield suificiently when the brakeman strikes them to prevent all injury from the shock occasioned thereby, any desired degree of tension being placed on said wires by means of the ratchet mechanism on the rod m.

I do not confine myself to securing the inner ends of the wires directly to the bridge, as it will be obvious that they may be attached to any suitable support under or near the bridge, provided the outer ends are elevated above the inner ends and secured at aproper distance from the bridge, substantially as described. Neither do I confine myself to the I use of springs for cushioning the wires; nor to the ratchet mechanism for exerting a tension thereon, as these may be dispensed with, if desired; nor to placing the tensionshaft m on the bridge D, as it may be disposed at the outer ends of the wires K, and supported by the posts H, if desired, the inner ends of said wires being secured directly to the bridge, or to a support beneath or near the same.

When the road'bed is provided with but one track, the guard-wires are preferably out long enough to extend between the girders J, beneath the rod z, and a tension-shaft, m, provided at each end of the wires, said shafts being mounted on the girders, orjournaled in boxes on the posts H, as preferred, the springs g and rod 2 being used beneath the bridge, substantially as shown.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a railway-track, a bridge disposed above said track, a series of guardwires, and supports for said wires, the wires extending from one side of the bridge out wardly along and over the track, and having their outer ends elevated above the plane of their inner ends, or above their lowest point at or near the bridge, substantially as specified.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a railway-track, a bridge disposed above said'track, a series of guardwires, and supports and tension mechanism for said wires, the wires extending from one side of the bridge outwardly along and over the track, and having their outer ends elevated above the plane of their inner ends, or above their lowest point at or near the bridge, substantially as specified.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a railway-track, a bridge disposed above said track, a series of guardwires and supports, cushioning-springs, and tension mechanism for said wires, the wires extending from one side of the bridge and outwardly along and over the track, and having their outer ends elevated above the plane of their inner ends, or above their lowest point at or near the bridge, substantially as set forth.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of the guard-wires K, posts H, girder J, springs g, rod m, and bridge D, arranged to operate substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of the guard-wires K, springs 9, posts H, girder J, rod m, ratchet-wheel b, pawl i, and bridge D,arranged to operate substantially as specified.

6. 111 a device of the character described, the springs 9, provided with the slots t, in combination with the bolt 1), rod 2, wires K, and bridge D, substantially as specified.

CHARLES C. TOZ [ER.

Witnesses:

O. M. SHAW, E. J. JORDAN. 

